16 Shells From A Thirty-Ought-Six

Album: Swordfishtrombones (1983)
Play Video
  • I plugged 16 shells from a thirty-ought-six
    And a black crow snuck through
    A hole in the sky
    So I spent all my buttons on an
    Old pack mule
    And I made me a ladder from
    A pawn shop marimba
    And I leaned it up against
    A dandelion tree

    And I filled me a sachel
    Full of old pig corn
    And I beat me a billy
    From an old French horn
    And I kicked that mule
    To the top of the tree
    And I blew me a hole
    'Bout the size of a kick drum
    And I cut me a switch
    From a long branch elbow

    I'm gonna whittle you into kindlin'
    Black crow 16 shells from a thirty-ought-six
    Whittle you into kindlin'
    Black crow 16 shells from a thirty-ought-six

    Well I slept in the holler
    Of a dry creek bed
    And I tore out the buckets
    From a red Corvette, tore out the buckets from a red Corvette
    Lionel and Dave and the butcher made three
    You got to meet me by the knuckles of the skinnybone tree
    With the strings of a washburn
    Stretched like a clothes line
    You know me and that mule scrambled right through the hole

    I'm gonna whittle you into kindlin'
    Black crow 16 shells from a thirty-ought-six
    Whittle you into kindlin'
    Black crow 16 shells from a thirty-ought-six

    Now I hold him prisoner
    In a washburn jail
    That stapped on the back
    Of my old kick mule
    Strapped it on the back of my old kick mule
    I bang on the strings just
    To drive him crazy
    I strum it loud just to rattle his cage
    Strum it loud just to rattle his cage

    I'm gonna whittle you into kindlin'
    Black crow 16 shells from a thirty-ought-six
    Whittle you into kindlin'
    Black crow 16 shells from a thirty-ought-six Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 2

  • AnonymousJoe from Sedona, exactly where my mind went.
  • Joe from SedonaThe metallic clang is the unmistakable “ping” of the empty clip being ejected from an M1 Garand. Sixteen shells is two full clips of eight (each), which is just enough to make an impression on you scarecrow.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Prince

PrinceFact or Fiction

Prince is shrouded in mystery, making him an excellent candidate for Fact or Fiction. Is he really a Scientologist? Does he own an exotic animal?

Rick Springfield

Rick SpringfieldSongwriter Interviews

Rick has a surprising dark side, a strong feminine side and, in a certain TV show, a naked backside. But he still hasn't found Jessie's Girl.

Grunge Bands Quiz

Grunge Bands QuizMusic Quiz

If the name Citizen Dick means anything to you, there's a chance you'll get some of these right.

Stand By Me: The Perfect Song-Movie Combination

Stand By Me: The Perfect Song-Movie CombinationSong Writing

In 1986, a Stephen King novella was made into a movie, with a classic song serving as title, soundtrack and tone.

Rufus Wainwright

Rufus WainwrightSongwriter Interviews

Rufus Wainwright on "Hallelujah," his album Unfollow The Rules, and getting into his "lyric trance" on 12-hour walks.

La La Brooks of The Crystals

La La Brooks of The CrystalsSong Writing

The lead singer on "Da Doo Ron Ron" and "Then He Kissed Me," La La explains how and why Phil Spector replaced The Crystals with Darlene Love on "He's A Rebel."